NORMAN, Okla. - For the fourth time in seven years, Illinois Wesleyan University men's golf head coach Jim Ott was tabbed a finalist for the Golf Coaches Association of America's Division III Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award presented by Golf Pride Grips. The GCAA released its list of five finalists Monday, May 19, ahead of the NCAA Division III National Championship. 

Ott, who won the award in 2019, 2020, and 2021, was joined by Methodist's Steve Conley, Washington & Lee's Pete Gyscek, Rochester's Dan Wesley, and Aurora's Justin Wyeth as finalists for the distinction. It is the fifth time Ott has been listed as a finalist for the honor.

Under the direction of Ott, Illinois Wesleyan has pieced together a tremendous season this year. The Titans have three wins on the season, including their 13th straight College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championship. IWU, which won the league title by a 35-shot margin, also has four top-four finishes in Ott's 25th year at the helm. 

Illinois Wesleyan is ranked fifth in the Scoreboard powered by Clippd, and led by PING All-Region V golfers Juney Bai, Quinn Clifford, Aidan Healy, CCIW Individual Champion Michael Spitzer, and CCIW Student-Athlete of the Year Griffin Pohl. Twelve-time CCIW Coach of the Year, Ott will look to lead his team to the program's third national championship since 2019 at the 2025 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship at Midvale Country Club in Penfield, N.Y. this week, May 20-23.

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For over seven decades, we've been the global leader in golf grip innovation and technology, from the invention of the slip-on grip to groundbreaking advancements in cord with our new Brushed Cotton Technology (BCT®) to the introduction of the hybrid category of grips. Today, Golf Pride® has laid claim to more major wins than any other grip company. More than 80% of Tour professionals choose to play our grips and not one is paid to do so. And in this age of multi-million dollar endorsement deals, that's the strongest endorsement of all. So, whether you're a Tour pro playing a major, a rising amateur, or an everyday golfer, you can rest assured knowing you're playing the #1 Grip in Golf. To learn more about Golf Pride®, go to golfpride.com.